Yes, they are at it again. The car companies and car dealers are once
again trying to kneecap California and other states by taking away
their rights to set better global warming emission standards for motor
vehicles.

Yes, the Bush administration did reject California's
bid, but EPA's attorneys believe California will prevail in court.
Hence the new push by the car crowd to build a fire wall in Congress.

In
a March 25 power point presentation, said to be made to "Blue Dog"
Democrats, the U.S. and international car companies and car dealers
repeated tired old arguments (such as the one claiming the California
standards would amount to a "patchwork" of different standards; a
"patchwork" of two?).

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The car companies admit the California
standards would be tougher (remember when EPA Administrator Steve
Johnson lied about this?), but complained they would also be more
expensive. (Not once you start factoring in how much less a consumer
would spend on gas over time!)

The intention here is clear: to
try to block pending legislation that would order EPA to grant the
California waiver, and also to lay down a marker -- to assert that the
car crowd will oppose comprehensive global warming legislation unless
it preempts the rights of California and other states.